Third session of the regional platform for disaster risk reduction in the Americas: Statement by Turks and Caicos Islands

A statement in which the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands highlighted the significant disasters that impacted the island between 2008 and 2011, a number of health related emergencies, as well as a documented regional earthquake history that creates a high susceptibility to tsunamis. It mentioned the Disaster Risk Management Framework, adopted by the Turks and Caicos Islands in support of the regional Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) and divided into three thematic areas: pre-disaster activities, response and recovery, including hazard mapping and assessment for flood and wind hazards and the Regional Risk Reduction Initiative (R31), which seeks to address the risk exposure of the islands by providing a network of regional infrastructure programmes, policies and protocols to strengthen their capacity to predict and prepare for natural hazards, thus improving resilience and reduce risk and subsequent loss.

It also reported on the institutionalization of a national mechanism for coordination and policy guidance, which uses a multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach, especially in the tourism and business sectors. It called for a greater physical presence of the international donor community in order to strengthen the existing capacities especially in the areas of climate change adaptation, sector planning, and research and development as it relates to early warning systems for greater hazard monitoring and assessment. It also emphasized the support to the area of education through two risk management projects, as well as capacity building for oil spills both on land and at sea with special focus on international shipping accidents.

It considered efforts to now mainstream the community-based disaster risk management programme as a priority area and the need for legislative support for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management and the disaster risk management framework. It finally presented the the country’s vision for the Post-HFA 2015.